Rare Sighting of Gray Whale in Massachusetts Waters

by Aria, age 13

The recent sighting of a gray whale in the Atlantic Ocean has alarmed scientists. Typically, sighting this rarely-seen species is a good sign for the ocean; gray whales are intended to be spotted in the North Pacific Ocean, not the Atlantic Ocean. The species has hardly been seen in the Atlantic Ocean since its population faded in the 18th century.

Fortunately, gray whales are not endangered. However, in the last 15 years, there have only been six sightings of gray whales in the Atlantic and Mediterranean waters. “I didn’t want to say out loud what it was because it seemed crazy,” said Orla O’Brien, a researcher with the Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life. In March, O’Brien and her co-worker, Kate Laemmle, spotted the whale near Nantucket.

The gray whale is closely related to the six different species of the family Balaenopteridae. Two distinct populations of gray whales exist in the western part of North America, and the other is on the coast of Asia, from South Korea to Russia. Gray whales migrate twice over nearly 12,000 miles of the ocean every year. Despite their extensive migrations, it still doesn't explain why this specific whale was spotted near Massachusetts waters, as this is not a typical area they visit. “My brain was trying to process what I was seeing because this animal was something that should not exist in these waters,” Laemmle said.

Scientists blame climate change as a potential factor as to why there were sightings of the gray whale in New England waters. Sea ice typically limits gray whales' range of movement. The whales cannot break through the thick ice that usually blocks the Atlantic and Pacific passages in winter. Due to climate change and global warming, it is possible that the whales can now travel through the Arctic Ocean in the summer, which hasn't been possible for more than a century. “This sighting highlights how important each survey is. While we expect to see humpback, right, and fin whales, the ocean is a dynamic ecosystem, and you never know what you’ll find,” said Orla O’Brien.

It will be essential to continue monitoring the movement and migration of gray whales in the future to understand their presence in ocean waters and changing global climates further.

[Source: WMTV 15 News]